New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-15
ADOPTED BY THE SENATE.
A VICTORY FOR INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

AFTER LONG DEBATE THE UPPER HOUSE ACCEPTS
| THE CONFERENCE REPORT.
lsr rELEanArH THE TnrBuNr]
WASHINGTON. Jan. 14.-After session lasting for
nearly twelve hours the Senate, shortly before mid
night decided to adopt the conference report upon the
Interstate Commerce bi by vote Of 43 to Is. The
vote in favor Of the surprise to most
| people, though it anticipated that 1t would be
large in view OF the test vote early in the day37 to
l2-by which the bill taken up for consideration.
The debate shortly before the final vote was
reached devoid OF interest," as far as the merits of
the measure itself We're concerned For hour
it turned merely upon the point whether the bill
should be recommitted to the Conference Committee
with instructions without instructions Senator
Sherman ruled the motion to re-commit with instruc
tions out OF order, which by some was tor time
regarded as endansering the ultimate fate OF the.
measure. But az the motion to recomut was lost by
vote OF % to 36, il became apparent that the
bill would pass by large majority. This it did, in
fact, shortly aterwa ID. few speeches only made by
Senators in explanation OF their votes delaying the
| final result.
The bill as II stands Is far from satisfactory to
the Senate, notwths anding the large vote in its
favor. Most OF the Southern members and few from
the West think 1t does not go far enough. Senator's
representing Eastern constituencies. on the other
hand. generally consider it to be tar too radical.
large numoer voted against their judgment
and simply because public sentiment in their States
seemed TO favor it. One Senator expressed himself
something like this: If had voted against this bill,
il would have taken the rest Of my life to explain my
vote"
g. Z, ,lo
want mo to. In my judgment, however, it is
thoroughly bad bil.."
There Senators who believe that the bill will in
its essential features be harmless far the rail
roads concerned and injurious only to shippers.
Others believe that it WILL if strictly enforced by the
Government create such opposition that its repeal Will
be demanded before it has been in operation six
mouths An analysis of the final vote shows that all
the Southern with three exceptions voted for the
bill, and Of these three one. Malone, Republi
can Only four of the Senators from New England
States supported the biIl-Edmunds. Frye. Hale and
Ilawey; and the three ast-namrd voted in favor of
reconmitting. The nam support of the bill came
from the West. 1t was antagouized chiefly by the
| Middle States and California.
The talk in certain quarters, so freely INDUCED in
while the under discussion, to the effect
ths, the railroads using improper influence to
defeat the passage of the bill, had founda
ton Few measures of the importance of this bill have
been exposed TO tie influence of the " lobby in a
lesser degree than has this Interstate Commerce BILL
When the bill taken up the Senate this after
noon, the body addressed by Mr.. Hdar.
| The pending legislation lie said, was tho result OF
popular movement spreading over the last twenty years
which had his hearty sympathy and official
support from the beginning far 1t in favor OF
cheap transportation and OF regulating the conduct OF the
great railroads In those things which affect the conven
OF the people But he objected to two features OF
the conference because he regarded those features
a. an attempt strike down healthy competition be-
regarded them calculated to increase and not
diminish the burdens which tho railroads already laid
| on the commerce OF the country
lie denied tnat the opposition 10 the conference report
camo railroad IL came from men who
were alarmed lest operation which
| they vere able 10 do large and profitable
branches of business would De raised. to
the ruin OF their business He said that the objection
tho fourth AMI hfth sections OF the bill that the
Ohe long aud short haul scctOn would destroy the
cheapness OF transportation AMI the other the pooling
secon would destroy the steaness OF the business by
putting OF the power OF the railroads TO prevent
| railroad
The original bill hal only given the Commissioners
power TO investigate and report They were TO hold up
to daylight any transactions In railroad management OF
which the people might complain But the bill reported
by the Conference Committee gave them power half
legislative ana naII IL gave power o'ci
the business OF and cities, AMI over great
classes OF nyestmcnt-a power which Persian satrap
N Roman proconsul was ever trusted with lie concluded
by saying that the true policy OF the Senate was to re-
| commit the bill
Mr. Sherman said he desired state his for the
vote he would give this bill He believed that BIZ
Of It's Importance hal ever had such general support
only among the people, but In both houses of Con-
gress The necessity for its passage was great-nade
greater By the decision OF the Supreme Court lie
free 10 say that II his vote on the bill would tend 10
defeat its passage at this session. he would vote In
different way from that In which he intended to vote
But there such eXigency. Tho bill was IN such
An advanced state of consideration that without queS
ton would pass at the present session IN some FORM or
II the bill recommted tn re would be sure
to he action on II. There scarcely doubt that the
Conference Committee would report II back.
This bill something IN the nature OF general ap-
preparation bill, where item voted by one house and
pcrsIstcnty rejected by the other should be withdrawn
by the house proposing IT, The house making the propo-
on should recedc in order TO the passage OF the
bill Under these circumstances. he should vote TO re-
commit the bill to the conterees with view to
have them look the disputed points and see whether
not they could frame such provisions as would enable
and Representatives vote for the bill freely
without any doubt 10 the effect OF any OF Its provi
sons That was the view which he took Of the bill in It's
general FORM
lie thought there great danger that the section as
to long aud short haus would destroy the export trade
Of the country II might, for instance, divert the tea
trade which found is from Asia to Europe by the
railroads. other routeslikc the sucz,
tho Cape Horn, the Panama tho Canadian route SO
great the competition for that trade that 1t could be
diverted by pebble much more by such great re-
striction as the bill proposed
Mr.. Ednunds-what general provision would you sug-
gcstt
Mr.. sherman-I am not prepared TO say what wcrds
would suggest but my general idea Is that would mako
\ discrimination In favor OF tho foreign trade
The Conference Committee may dives the bill OF its OBJ
jectionabe features For that and only for that
reason, shall vote to recommit the bill.
Mr. Edmunds argued In favor OF the conference report
He claimed that the long and short haul sccton the
Conference Committee had merely changed tho